Radiation treatment device

ABSTRACT

A radiation treatment device is provided. The device includes an imaging unit and a single radiotherapy unit adjacent to a second end of the imaging unit. The imaging unit includes a first opening at a first end of the imaging unit adapted to receive a patient; at least one imaging source; and at least one imager arranged opposite the imaging source. The imaging source and the imager are rotatable about the rotational axis. The radiotherapy unit includes a source body carrying radioactive sources and a collimator having collimation channels. The collimation channels permit treatment beams emitted by the radioactive sources to be projected inside the imaging unit and focused at an intersection point located within an imaging beam of the imaging unit. The source body and the collimator are arranged concentric about the rotational axis and close a second opening at the second end.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 16/815,384 filed on Mar. 11, 2020 and entitled “RADIATION TREATMENT DEVICE”, which is a continuation of international application No. PCT/CN2019/099312 filed on Aug. 5, 2019 and entitled “RADIATION TREATMENT DEVICE”, which claims priority to the Chinese application No. 201810977447.2 filed on Aug. 24, 2018 and entitled “RADIATION TREATMENT DEVICE”, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by references.

BACKGROUND

At present, to improve the speed and accuracy for tumor localization and radiation treatment, radiation treatment devices routinely combine radiotherapy units and imaging units, such that radiation treatment can be performed on patients without moving the patients from imaging rooms equipped with the imaging units to treatment rooms equipped with the radiotherapy units, and the radiation treatment procedures are as follows.

A patient is initially moved to an imaging unit by moving a treatment couch to complete tumor imaging, and a treatment plan is subsequently worked out based on the size and shape of the tumor in the images as well as surrounding tissues, etc. Next, the patient is moved to the radiotherapy unit by moving the treatment couch, and the treatment couch is properly located such that the tumor location corresponds to the tumor location in the treatment plan, and finally, the radiation treatment is executed for the tumor in the patient.

However, the treatment couch needs to be relocated before the radiation treatment device performs the radiation treatment on the tumor in the patient, which may lead to a location error of the treatment couch and thus may have a negative effect on the accuracy of the radiation treatment. Moreover, the imaging unit and the radiotherapy apparatus in the radiation treatment device cannot work simultaneously, and thus it is impossible to perform image-guided radiation treatment on the patient, particularly the patient subject to the radiation treatment.

SUMMARY

To solve the above technical problems, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a radiation treatment device, which may improve the accuracy of radiation treatment and may perform image-guided radiation treatment on a patient in real time.

To achieve an objective of the present disclosure, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a radiation treatment device, which includes a radiotherapy unit and an imaging unit. The radiotherapy unit is configured to emit a treatment beam to a to-be-treated region in a patient, and the to-be-treated region in the patient is located outside the radiotherapy unit. The imaging unit is arranged adjacent to the radiotherapy unit and is configured to emit an imaging beam to the to-be-treated region in the patient.

A radiation treatment device is provided in an embodiment. The radiation treatment device consists essentially of an imaging unit and a single radiotherapy unit. The imaging unit includes a first end and a second end along a rotational axis; a first opening at the first end adapted to receive a patient; at least one imaging source; and at least one imager arranged opposite the imaging source, the imaging source and the imager being rotatable about the rotational axis. The single radiotherapy unit is adjacent to the second end of the imaging unit. The radiotherapy unit may include a source body carrying radioactive sources; and a collimator having collimation channels. The collimation channels permit treatment beams emitted by the radioactive sources to be projected inside the imaging unit and focused at an intersection point which is located within an imaging beam of the imaging unit. The source body and the collimator are arranged concentric about the rotational axis, and closing a second opening at the second end.

Another radiation treatment device is also provided. The radiation treatment device consists essentially of an imaging unit and a single radiotherapy unit. The imaging unit includes a first end and a second end along a rotational axis; a first opening at the first end adapted to receive a patient; at least one imaging source; and at least one imager arranged opposite the imaging source, the imaging source and the imager being rotatable about the rotational axis. The single radiotherapy unit is adjacent to the second end of the imaging unit, and includes an intensity modulated radiation treatment apparatus or an x-ray knife. A projection in a to-be-treated region in the patient of a treatment beam emitted by the radiotherapy unit is located within the imaging beam of the imaging unit.

Compared with related technologies, the radiation treatment device in the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a radiotherapy unit and an imaging unit. The radiotherapy unit is configured to emit a treatment beam to a to-be-treated region in a patient, wherein the to-be-treated region in the patient is located outside the radiotherapy unit. The imaging unit is arranged adjacent to the radiotherapy unit and is configured to emit an imaging beam to the to-be-treated region in the patient.

The radiotherapy unit also may emit a treatment beam to the same to-be-treated region. That is, the radiotherapy unit and the imaging unit have the same projection target, i.e., the to-be-treated region. Therefore, without moving the to-be-treated region in the patient, the radiotherapy unit may emit the treatment beam to the to-be-treated region in the patient according to a treatment plan worked out to execute the radiation treatment, such that the accuracy of the radiation treatment is improved.

Furthermore, in the process of the radiation treatment, the radiation treatment device can perform imaging while perform treatment, and can perform real-time image-guided radiation treatment on the to-be-treated region in the patient, so as to ensure the to-be-treated region to always correspond to the location in the treatment plan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are provided for further understanding the technical solutions of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the specification, and, together with the embodiments of the present disclosure, are provided to interpret the technical solutions of the present disclosure, rather than limiting the technical solutions of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view I of a radiation treatment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view II of another radiation treatment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view III of a radiation treatment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view IV of a radiation treatment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view V of a radiation treatment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a central axis of an imaging beam and a reference axis according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a mounted position of a shield door according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view VI of a radiation treatment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view VII of a radiation treatment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure will be made below with reference to the accompanying drawings to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure more apparent.

It is to be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure and the features in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined with each other on a non-conflict basis.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a radiation treatment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1 , the radiation treatment device includes a single radiotherapy unit 10 and an imaging unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the imaging unit 20 may include a first end E1 and a second end E2 along a rotational axis RA. The first end E1 of the imaging unit 20 may have a first opening OP1 for receiving the patient, and The second end E2 of the imaging unit 20 may have a second opening OP2.

The imaging unit 20 may further include at least one imaging source 202 and at least one imager 203. The imager 203 is arranged opposite the imaging source 202, and the imager 203 and the imaging source 202 are rotatable about the rotational axis RA

The radiotherapy unit 10 is adjacent to the second end E2 of the imaging unit 20, and is configured to emit a treatment beam to a to-be-treated region T in the patient. The treatment beam is projected into the radiotherapy unit 10 through the second opening OP2 of the second end E2. E2 The to-be-treated region T in the patient is located outside the radiotherapy unit 10. The imaging unit 20 is arranged adjacent to the radiotherapy unit 10 and is configured to emit an imaging beam to the to-be-treated region T in the patient.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the projection in the to-be-treated region T of the treatment beam emitted by the radiotherapy unit 10 is located within the imaging beam of the imaging unit 20.

The radiation treatment device in the embodiments of the present disclosure emits an imaging beam to the to-be-treated region T in the patient by using the imaging unit 20 to obtain an image of the to-be-treated region T in the patient. A treatment plan is worked out on the basis of the image of the to-be-treated region T in the patient. The radiotherapy unit 10 also may emit a treatment beam to the same to-be-treated region T. That is, the radiotherapy unit 10 and the imaging unit 20 have the same projection target, i.e., the to-be-treated region T. Therefore, without moving the to-be-treated region T in the patient, the radiotherapy unit 10 may emit the treatment beam to the to-be-treated region T in the patient according to the treatment plan worked out to execute the radiation treatment, such that the accuracy of the radiation treatment is improved.

Furthermore, in the process of the radiation treatment, the radiation treatment device may perform imaging while performing treatment, and may perform real-time image-guided radiation treatment on the to-be-treated region T in the patient, so as to ensure the to-be-treated region T to always correspond to the treatment location in the treatment plan. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the radiotherapy unit 10 may be an intensity modulated radiation treatment apparatus, a cyberknife (x-ray knife), or a multi-source focused radiation treatment apparatus, etc. The imaging unit 20 may be at least one of the apparatuses that follow: an X-ray apparatus, a cone beam CT (CBCT) apparatus, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, a positron emission computed tomography (PET) apparatus, an ultrasound apparatus, or a digital subtraction angiography (Digital Subtraction Angiography, DSA) apparatus.

Further, there may be a plurality of radiotherapy units 10. As shown in FIG. 2 , the radiotherapy unit 10 may include a first radiotherapy unit 10A and a second radiotherapy unit 10B. The imaging unit 20 is located between the first radiotherapy unit 10A and the second radiotherapy unit 10B. The first radiotherapy unit 10A and the second radiotherapy unit 10B may simultaneously emit treatment beam to the to-be-treated region T to improve the efficiency of the radiation treatment.

When the radiotherapy unit 10 is the multi-source focused radiation treatment apparatus, as shown in FIG. 3 , the radiotherapy unit 10 includes a plurality of radioactive sources S. The treatment beams emitted by the plurality of radioactive sources S are focused at an intersection point I outside the radiotherapy unit 10, and the intersection point I coincides with an imaging center R of the imaging unit 20. It is to be readily understood that when there are two radiotherapy units 10, the first radiotherapy unit 10A and the second radiotherapy unit 10B each include a plurality of radioactive sources S. The treatment beams emitted by the plurality of radioactive sources S are focused at an intersection point I outside the radiotherapy unit 10, and the intersection point I coincides with an imaging center R of the imaging unit 20.

It is to be understood that the to-be-treated region T may include one or more to-be-treated targets, and each time the radiation treatment is performed, the intersection point I where the plurality of treatment beams are focused coincides with one of the targets.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the radiotherapy unit 10 may include a source body 102 and a collimator 103. The source body 102 and the collimator 103 are adjacent to the second opening OP2 of the second end E2 of the imaging unit 20.

Specifically, the source body 102 is configured to carry a plurality of radioactive sources S. The collimator 103 has a plurality of collimation channels that allow the treatment beams emitted by the plurality of radioactive source focused at the intersection point I through the collimation channels and the second opening OP2. The intersection point I is located within the imaging beam of the imaging unit 20.

It is to be readily understood that the intersection point I of the treatment beams emitted by the plurality of radioactive sources S is located within the imaging beam of the imaging unit 20 such that the image of the to-be-treated region T is obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the radiotherapy unit 10 includes a shield body 101, a source body 102, and a collimator 103 in sequence from outside to inside. The shield body 101 is configured to shield rays, and the shield body 101 is approximate to the second end of the imaging unit 20. The source body 102 is configured to carry the plurality of radioactive sources S. The collimator 103 has collimation channels 1031. When the collimation channels 1031 of the collimator 103 are aligned with the plurality of radioactive sources S, that is, when the radioactive sources S are turned on, the treatment beams emitted by the plurality of radioactive sources S may be focused at the intersection point I through the collimation channels 1031 to treat the targets in the patient. When the collimation channels 1031 of the collimator 103 are not aligned with the plurality of radioactive sources S, that is, when the plurality of radioactive sources S are turned off, the treatment beams emitted by the plurality of radioactive sources S are shielded by the collimator 103, and the radiation treatment device stops the treatment. Here, the intersection point I coincides with the imaging center R of the imaging unit 20.

The shield body 101 of the radiotherapy unit 10 generally is made of a shielding material such as lead or tungsten. The radiotherapy unit 10 has a large total weight. Due to the action of gravity, as shown in FIG. 4 , the radiotherapy unit 10 may sag in the direction (the direction of arrow in FIG. 4 ) perpendicular to a rotational axis RA. Therefore, a first anti-sagging component 1041 is arranged between the shield body 101 and the source body 102, and a second anti-sagging component 1042 is arranged between the source body 102 and the collimator 103 to prevent the radiotherapy unit 10 from sagging as a whole. Further, the above anti-sagging components may be annular bearings, such as rolling bearings, etc.

To align or not align the collimation channels 1031 of the collimator 103 with a plurality of radioactive sources S, that is, to turn on or off the radioactive sources, at least two possible examples below may be adopted.

In a possible example, as shown in FIG. 4 , the source body 102 in the radiotherapy unit 10 does not rotate about the rotational axis RA, whereas the collimator 103 rotates about the rotational axis RA. The rotation of the collimator 103 causes the collimation channels 1031 of the collimator 103 to be aligned or not aligned with the plurality of radioactive sources S. Similarly, the source body 102 may be designed to rotate about the rotational axis RA, but the collimator 103 does not rotate about the rotational axis RA. Of course, the source body 102 and the collimator 103 may be designed to rotate about the rotational axis RA in different rotation directions or at different rotation speeds.

When the collimation channels 1031 of the collimator 103 are aligned with the plurality of radioactive sources S, if the source body 102 and the collimator 103 rotate together about the rotational axis RA, rays (treatment beams) emitted by the radioactive sources S irradiate the target at different angles, which may prevent normal tissues around the target from being exposed to ray irradiation for a long time.

In another possible example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the source body 102 in the radiotherapy unit 10 does not move along a predetermined trajectory A, whereas the collimator 103 moves along the predetermined trajectory A. The movement of the collimator 103 causes the collimation channels 1031 of the collimator 103 to be aligned or not aligned with the plurality of radioactive sources S. Similarly, the source body 102 may be designed to move along the predetermined trajectory A, whereas the collimator 103 does not move along the predetermined trajectory A. Of course, the source body 102 and the collimator 103 may be designed to move along the predetermined trajectory A in different movement directions or at different movement speeds.

It is to be noted here that the first example is described taking a bowl-shaped radiotherapy unit 10 as an example, and the second example is described taking a tube-shaped radiotherapy unit 10 as an example. Of course, the radiotherapy unit 10 may have other structures, and the shape or the like of the radiotherapy unit 10 is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

For ease of installation or replacement of the radioactive source, a bowl-shaped radiotherapy unit 10 is taken as an example. As shown in FIG. 4 , the radioactive source S may be arranged on a source case 51. Accordingly, the source body 102 includes a source case mounting hole 1021, and the source case 51 is mounted in the source case mounting hole 1021. Further, the shield body 101 includes a source case shield hole 1011 and a source case shield block 1012, wherein a size of the source case shield hole 1011 is greater than or equal to a size of the source case mounting hole 1021, and the source case shield block 1012 matches the source case shield hole 1011.

In addition, the above-mentioned radioactive sources S may be uniformly distributed in a spiral shape on the source body 102, or may be divided into a plurality of groups, which are all distributed on a sector of the source body 102. Each group of radioactive sources is distributed in the direction of the rotational axis RA, or each group of radioactive sources is evenly distributed in a circle of an annular shield member 201 of the source body 102.

No matter the radioactive source is turned on or off in whatever way, the treatment beam passing through the intersection point I may leak out. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the imaging unit 20 includes a shield member 201 arranged adjacent to the radiotherapy unit 20 and configured to shield the treatment beam passing through the intersection point I. After a treatment beam emitted from the radioactive source S passes through the intersection point I, the treatment beam may be shielded by the shield member 201, which effectively prevents rays from leaking out in the treatment process.

The above-mentioned shield member 201 is hollow-shaped (for example, ring-shaped) or sheet-shaped (for example, C-shaped). When the shield member 201 is sheet-shaped, the shield member 201 may rotate with the radioactive source S at any time to shield the rays (treatment beams) emitted by the radioactive source S. However, the thickness of the shield member 201, the size of a hollow-shaped intermediate opening, and the size of the sheet may be set according to the direction and intensity of the treatment beam passing through the intersection point I.

Further, the imaging unit 20 also includes an imaging source 202 and an imager 203. In a possible example, as shown in FIG. 4 , the imaging source 202 and the imager 203 are arranged opposite to each other on an end surface at an edge of the source body 102 or the collimator 103 rotatable about the rotational axis RA, and the imaging source 202 and the imager 203 may rotate with the source body 102 or the collimator 103. In another possible example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the imaging source 202 and the imager 203 are oppositely arranged on a rotation ring 204 in the shield member 201 and are rotatable about the rotational axis RA. In other possible examples, the imaging unit 20 may include at least two groups of imaging sources 202 and imagers 203, which are arranged oppositely inside the shield member 201 respectively, and a predetermined angle (such as 90 degrees) is formed between the two groups of imaging sources 202 and imagers 203.

Further, to increase an imaging volume, as shown in FIG. 6 , a central axis of an imaging beam emitted from the imaging source 202 deviates from a reference axis, and the reference axis is an axis penetrating through the imaging center R and perpendicular to the imager 203. When the imaging unit 20 (for example, the imaging source 202 and the imager 203) rotates with the radiotherapy unit 20, the imaging beam may form a larger imaging volume.

Further, the radiation treatment device also includes a shield door 50 configured to open or close the radiation treatment device, or to shield the treatment beam emitted from the radiotherapy unit 10. Taking the bowl-shaped radiotherapy unit 10 as shown in FIG. 3 as an example, as shown in FIG. 7 , the shield door 50 may be arranged at an exit of the treatment beam from the radiotherapy unit 10 or inside the imaging unit 20 or outside the imaging unit 20. When the radiation treatment device is not in operation, if beams emitted by the radioactive source S are not completely shielded by the collimator 103, the shield door 50 may be configured to shield these unshielded rays. If the beams emitted by the radioactive source S are completely shielded by the collimator 103, the shield door 50 may be configured to open or close therapeutic space of the radiation treatment device. Of course, the shield door 50 may be configured to shield these unshielded rays and may also be configured to open or close the therapeutic space of the radiation treatment device.

When the radiotherapy unit 10 in the above embodiment is of a partial shield design, to prevent the radioactive source S from leaking out when the radiotherapy unit 10 is not in use, as shown in FIG. 8 , the radiation treatment device further includes a radioactive source receiving unit 30 configured to receive and store the radioactive source S into the radioactive source receiving unit 30 when the radiotherapy unit 10 is not in operation.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the radiation treatment device further includes a treatment couch 40 arranged at a side of the imaging unit 20, i.e. at the first end of the imaging unit 20. The treatment couch 40 may be a three-dimension couch or a six-dimension couch.

The above is merely for the convenience of understanding the technical solution of the present disclosure by those skilled in the art, and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. All modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present disclosure shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A radiation treatment device, consisting essentially of: an imaging unit comprising: a first end and a second end along a rotational axis; a first opening at the first end adapted to receive a patient; at least one imaging source; and at least one imager, the imager arranged opposite the imaging source, the imaging source and the imager being rotatable about the rotational axis; and a single radiotherapy unit adjacent to the second end of the imaging unit, the radiotherapy unit comprising: a source body carrying radioactive sources; and a collimator having collimation channels, the collimation channels permitting treatment beams emitted by the radioactive sources to be projected inside the imaging unit and focused at an intersection point, and the intersection point is located within an imaging beam of the imaging unit; the source body and the collimator arranged concentric about the rotational axis, and closing a second opening at the second end.
 2. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, the radiotherapy unit further comprising a shield member, and the shield member being arranged adjacent to the radiotherapy unit for shielding the treatment beams passing through the intersection point.
 3. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, the source body and/or the collimator being rotatable about the rotational axis; or the source body and/or the collimator being movable along a predetermine trajectory.
 4. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the radiotherapy unit further comprises a shield body, the shield body abutting the second end of the imaging unit.
 5. The radiation treatment device according to claim 4, wherein the shield body comprises a source case shield hole for mounting a source case shield block.
 6. The radiation treatment device according to claim 5, further comprising a source case, wherein the radioactive sources are arranged in the source case.
 7. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the radioactive sources are distributed in a sector of the source body.
 8. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the radioactive sources are distributed evenly on the source body.
 9. The radiation treatment device according to claim 2, further comprising a first annular bearing between the shield body and the source body.
 10. The radiation treatment device according to claim 9, further comprising a second annular bearing between the source body and the collimator.
 11. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, wherein a central axis of an imaging beam emitted from the imaging source deviates from a reference axis passing through the imaging center and perpendicular to the imager.
 12. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit comprises at least one of: an X-ray apparatus, a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) apparatus, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MM) apparatus, a positron emission computed tomography (PET) apparatus, an ultrasound apparatus, or a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) apparatus.
 13. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising a shield door, wherein the shield door is arranged at the first end to shield the treatment beam emitted from the radiotherapy unit, or the shield door is arranged between the first end and the second end.
 14. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising a shield door at the second end.
 15. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising a treatment couch arranged at the first end of the imaging unit.
 16. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the source body is rotatable about the rotational axis, the imaging source and the imager are arranged on an end surface at an edge of the source body, and are rotatable with the source body.
 17. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the collimator is rotatable about the rotational axis, the imaging source and the imager are arranged on an end surface at an edge of the collimator, and the imaging source and the imager are rotatable with the collimator.
 18. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging source and the imager are arranged on a rotation ring.
 19. The radiation treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) apparatus. 